Originally Posted on Foxsports.com on April 9, 2006.
Nascar finished its Texas weekend, celebrated 10 years of racing at the facility, and managed to continue the Busch Brother Bashing that had been going on for several races.
Kurt Busch v. Greg Biffle: Although the President had a taped greeting at the track, the majority of the Busch Bashing this weekend was betwen Kurt Busch and Greg Biffle. Biffle's car had been strong during the first 50 or so laps, but he was cycled out of the lead due to pit stops. As he was working his way back to the front, he came across Kurt Busch. Whether Busch or Biffle was to blame for what happened next depends on your point of view. Busch, who was down a lap, end up running into Biffle's back bumper, causing him to crash. Biffle blamed Busch for ended his day. Biffle's girlfriend, Nicole Lunders, walked to Busch's pit box and had words with Busch's fiancee Eva Bryan.
Kurt Busch vs. the Media? The news media wanted Busch's reaction to Biffle's wrech after the race. Busch gave an explanation blaming Biffle for coming up in front of him and slowing down. When another reporter asked him what happened, Busch snapped back at them that he had answered the question and stormed off into his hauler. He later came back out and answered a few more questions. Apparently the Penske PR people have not quite worked their magic with Kurt...
Clint Bowyer vs. Kyle Busch: Late in the race, Bowyer opted to take 2 tires instead of 4 to gain track position. As he was sliding backwards in the field, he began racing with Kyle Busch for position. As they raced, Bowyer crashed. Bowyer claimed Busch got into him, Busch claimed Bowyer did it on his own. The tape is unclear. Given that Bowyer is a rookie and Kyle Busch is, well, Kyle Busch, both are probably at fault in some way.
Carl Edwards vs. Jeff Gordon vs. Tony Stewart? Carl Edwards, who was in third place, was racing with Jeff Gordon, who was a lap or two down. Edwards got out of shape, hit Gordon, hit the wall, narrowly missed hitting Stewart and then crashed into the inside wall. Needless to say, he was out of the race at that point. Reporters questioned Edwards and asked if Gordon or Stewart caused the accident, Edwards denied it and said it was just him pushing too hard at the time. After the race, reporters went to Stewart and asked him what he thought happened - Stewart said Edwards was driving too hard ("in over his head") and lost it, then commented he was glad Edwards was OK because it looked like a hard hit into the wall. In other words, the drivers didn't have issues with each other, but the reporters tried to generate a fight. No one appears to have taken the bait.
Busch Series Racing Notes: Kurt Busch won his first race in the Busch series, and to celebrate, he did his "trademark" snow angel. I admit it was somewhat charming at Bristol where it had snowed all weekend, but I'm not sure it should be his "trademark" celebration.
Reed Sorenson may be penalized after it appeared he threw a piece of his rollbar padding/insulation onto the track to cause a caution. He then called in that there was debris in the corner. The Fox cameras caught the piece of foam flying out the window - it didn't seem to be certain that Sorenson threw it, but he was penalized by Nascar for the infraction (he was sent to the end of the line and lost about 5 places). Nascar may exact a point penalty as well.
More interesting was a conversation that Kyle Busch and his crew chief had immediately after that accident. Busch was warned not to throw anything on the track to cause a caution because they had caught Sorenson. Busch replied that he didn't have anything to throw. Seconds later he remarked it would be stupid to do it since he had an in-car camera.
You'll remember that Greg Biffle eventually won a Busch race when someone caused a caution by throwing a glove onto the track. Nascar never found out who caused the caution or lost the glove. Hmm...
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